Traveling is an amazing experience we should all do at least once a year. There is so much excitement in the planning stage and the actual travel stage. But there is one part that continues to trip people up: packing, unpacking, and the pack up.
Packing for travel is a struggle for many because they do not know how to best get everything they need into one suitcase. And with the price of checking your bag going up, most travelers are resorting to a carry-on and one personal item.
When you reach your destination, it is super easy to place your items in a drawer or in a closet if they are properly organized in packing cubes. The same goes for the pack-up when you are preparing to return home.
When you get home, you do not have to dig deep into the suitcase to place all your stuff back in their home. Simply grab the cube and organize the contents within. This is a huge timesaver and a staple method for every traveler.
Today, we are going to share our best tips for packing with packing cubes as well as other clever ways you can use them around your house. Pro tip: head to ezpacking and use code imagineitdone for a discount.
Here are some helpful tips you can use when packing for your next trip
Roll your clothes except for certain fabrics
One of the biggest questions people have when it comes to packing cubes is whether they should roll or fold their clothes. Packing cubes are meant to hold a lot no matter which version you prefer. But if you want our best tip, we suggest rolling your clothes.
Rolling clothes does a few things. First, it keeps your clothes from getting wrinkled during travel. Second, it gives you more room. This is especially true if you combine rolling your clothes with the file folding method.
These two combined will grant you more space for more clothes. Though we highly encourage you to bring only what you need. More on that soon, but there is one exception to folding. And that depends on the fabric. Certain fabrics are better folded, but you can still travel with them rolled. What you do will depend on your personal preference.
Choose how you are going to categorize your packing cubes for travel
Because packing cubes often come in a set of different sizes, you can get really experimental with them. That is why we suggest establishing how you are going to categorize your cubes prior to packing.
For example, are you going to dedicate a certain number of cubes per person? Are you going to categorize them by item, outfit, or weather? Are you going to save the smaller ones for toiletries?
Here are some ways you can categorize your packing cubes depending on the type of trip you are taking:
If you are going on a short weekend trip, pre-plan your outfits and pack them in a single cube if you can. Use another cube for undergarments and another for toiletries.
If you are going on a longer trip where you will deal with different temperatures, separate your cubes by weather. Put all warmer weather clothes in one and cooler weather clothes in another. Use a smaller one for scarves, hats, and gloves and another one for swimsuits.
If you are going on a routine week-long trip with consistent temperatures, use one cube for tops, one for bottoms, and so on.
Want a bonus tip? Bring one empty cube and use that for your dirty laundry. This way you keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones.
Do you see what we mean about categorizing per trip?
This will help keep things organized as well so it is a definite win-win. You may find that you prefer one way to categorize over another and that is fine. Stick with what works best for you.
Do not overstuff them
Just because packing cubes can fit more, that does not mean you need to bring more. It is still vital that you cut down on what you bring with you. This means packing only the essentials and nothing more.
While it is fine to pack an extra shirt or two, packing an additional five when you are only going away for a week is a little excessive. So how do you bring only what you need?
First, you need to know what the weather situation is going to be like. And since the weather can change in a blink, we recommend checking three to four days before departure to really get a firm grip on the weather.
What does that mean for the clothes you plan on bringing? It simply means you may need to adjust a few things. If it is going to be colder, swap out one tee for a sweater or cardigan. If it is going to be warmer, bring only one sweater. Layers are your friend when traveling so try and bring items that can be mixed, matched, and layered.
Play a game of Tetris
Once the cubes are packed and you are ready to get them in your suitcase, be prepared to play some Tetris. If you do not remember that game, it is pretty simple. Your objective is to fit odd-shaped pieces together so they make one solid structure.
You are going to do the same thing with your packing cubes. Because everyone has different size suitcases, how you get them all in there will vary. What matters is finding the solution that works best for you.
While some people will find this step super easy and get all the packing cubes inside with no problem, others will need a few extra minutes. Do not overthink this step. You want to ensure your suitcase closes smoothly. If it does not, then you need to readjust your cubes.
But the good part about this is that once you do it a few times, it will come more naturally and you will pack for future trips a lot faster.
Other useful ways you can use packing cubes
Organize your personal item on the plane
Packing cubes do not necessarily have to stick to your suitcase and suitcase alone. They can be used for quite a few other things in your life. For example, you can use a few smaller ones to organize your personal item for the plane.
They can help keep snacks together or you can create an activities kit for your children. If you want to protect certain documents from spills, you can keep them in a packing cube. You can also use them to store additional toiletries that you may need mid-travel.
Organize your diaper bag
Another place you can use packing cubes is for your diaper bag. Store like items together like creams and lotions so you do not have to dig for them at the bottom of the bag.
If you have more than one child still in diapers, use two to hold the different sizes you need. Packing cubes are also great for storing backup outfits. This way if your toddler has an accident, you have spare clothes ready to go.
Organize areas of your home
Certain areas of your home could definitely use a packing cube or two. Because they tend to be clear, they are perfect for storing items you need to see but would prefer to keep neatly stored away.
One room that can benefit from packing cubes is your craft room if you have one. Knitters can use them to store yarn and you can separate them by color, thickness, or brand. Artists can use them to make traveling art kits.
Your children can use them to keep paints or markers organized. Finally, they make great storage options for off-season clothes.
The bathroom is always overloaded with medicine, toiletries, and makeup. To avoid under-the-sink or counter clutter, categorize and contain your overflow into clear packing cubes. They stack easily and are quick to access when needed.
When we say packing cubes are a versatile item, we mean it. As you can see above, they make traveling easier and more organized and can be used in just about any room of your home.
They are a great substitute for plastic containers. This is especially true for people who may not have much to store away and do not enjoy the bulky look of containers. Use packing cubes instead. They will do a great job of protecting your items while keeping them organized and neat.
Want to know what our favorite packing cubes are? Head over to our Shop to see. Once you learn how to best use packing cubes for travel and more, you will wish you had used them long ago.
Do you use packing cubes when you travel? Have you ever thought about using them elsewhere in your home? If so, where? Comment below.